Cambridge University Press eBooks
Quantum Many-Body Systems
Tim Byrnes, Ebubechukwu O. Ilo-Okeke
Abstract
This chapter introduces the basic theoretical tools for handling many-body quantum systems. Starting from second quantized operators, we discuss how it is possible to describe the composite wavefunction of multi-particle systems, and discuss representations in various bases. The algebra of Fock states is described for single and multi-mode systems, and how they relate to the eigenstates of the Schrodinger equation. Finally, we describe how interactions between particles can be introduced in a general way, and then describe the most common type of interaction in cold atom systems, the s-wave interaction